Circuit closing device



April 30, 1935 H. F. OBERGFELL E-r AL 1,999,823

CIRCUIT CLOSING DEVICE Filed oct. 2s. 1932 2, ShetS-Sheet l April 3o, 1995.

H. F. OBERGFELL. El' AL Patented Apr. 30, 19735 UNI-TED f` STATES "PATEN omccrr cLosrNG DEVICE vHerbert F. Obergfell, River Forest, and George W. Eickenberg, Chicago, Ill.,V assignors, by mesne assignments, to Associated Electric Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Dela- Application october ze, 17932, semi N0. 639,558

11 claims. (ci. 246-246) The present invention rrelates in general to circuit closing devices and moreparticulayk to a device of this type which is arrangedfor use in connection with railway signalling or `tele-switch- I ing systems. The main object olf/the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved circuit closing device or contactor which is mounted adjacent to one of the track rails andis arranged to be operated by the iianges of the wheels of the engine and the cars of a train. Such contactors are particularly useful in a railway car switching system such as disclosed inPatent No. 1,753,602, issued April 8, 1930, to Leon M. Gibbs.

Other objects and the novel featuresy of the.

invention will be vapparent from thesfollowing specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, comprising Figs. y1 to 8, inclusive, inkwhichy Fig. 1 is a top view of the complete contactor mounted in positionadjacentto a track rail;

Fig.`2 is a front View of the complete contacter n kas mounted on the track rail;

Fig. 3 isa side view of the complete contactor and shows the manner in which the contacter is attached to 'the track rail; Y

Fig. 4 is a front view of the casing 5 with the cover 6 removed and shows the electrical terminals and the circuit closing contacts;

Figs.r 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of the casing 5 and the cover 6 and illustrate the manner in which the cover 6 fits on the casing 5 to prevent moisture from entering the casing 5 and interfering with the proper working of the circuit'closing contacts;

' Fig. 7 is a cross-section'of the complete contactor taken along the line |`-l of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is a face view of the`block`3 with'the casing 5 and the plungerA assembly 30 removed therefrom, and shows the Vmanner in which rthe operating rocker arm 28 is mounted inthe housingV 3.

Referring to the drawings, thecontactor as-y sembly is secured to the track rail by means of bolts 4 which pass through the rail and through the splice bar or joint bar 2'on the other side of the rail. The contactor assembly consists essentially of three parts, the. main housingl 3 which contains the operating 'plunger assembly, the

. housing vor casing 5 whichcontains the'contact assembly and the terminals, and the cover 6. The casing 5 is secured to the mainv housing y3 by means of bolts I2 and the cover 6 is secured to the casing 5 by means of ybolts I3. The cover 6 yis arranged to t over casing 5 with a practically air tight fitting to preventmoisture from I rentering the casing 5 andinterfering kwith the proper functioning ofthe circuit closing contacts. 'This is accomplished kby meansof the ridge or raisedportion 53 which extends around they face of, the casing 5 and is'arrangedv to nt into a corresponding ygroove in the cover 6. This groove contains a gasket 54 so that the tting will Abe moisture proof when the cover 6 is securely bolted down to the casing 5. This fitting is clearly-illustrated ini Figs. 5, 6, and 7 of the drawings.

'I'he main housing 3. of ,the contactor encloses the kplunger 8 which is adapted to be kstruck by the flange of the railway car wheels.. This plunger lits into a sleevek I8 within they housing `3. `'I'he plunger is hollow for a portion'of its length to receive the spring 22, the other end of the spring fitting over a circular raised portion 2| in the bottom of the opening within housing 3. `vThe sleeve I8 and the plunger 8 are retained f within the housingby means of the flat ring Il against which 'the shoulder of the plunger rests in its normal position. Thev ring I'Ir is heldin place by means ofthe retaining ring l which in turnis held in'place by screws 9 which are countersunk in the retaining ring l. `A leather Washerfl 6 is provided around the outside of the plunger. 8 and isrheld rmly against the surface of the plunger by meansvof the spring 60. The re. taining `ring 'l is somewhat larger .than ythe plunger, the `space between the ring lfand the surfaceof the plunger being lled bythe leather washer I6.- r'I'his leather washer serves two purposes; namely, it prevents oil vfrom the plunger well from being pumped out by the plunger during its operation, and it prevents the plungery from becoming locked in its operated position lease. Thisdificulty isovercome by the leather washer `lli, since in case the flange on "acar wheel is too long and the edge of theretaining ring l is bent over, this does not affect the operation of the plungery as the bent f over portion I merely touches the washer I6v and does notex'- tend over the opening through whichv the plunger passes. I

The sleeve I8 is provided with a slot I9 ex,- tending alongoneV side of itslength. Apin6I is embedded in the housing and extends a short distance into the plunger well or opening land nts into groove I9 to serve as a guide for the sleeve I8 vso that it will be properly positioned inthe-housing. A hole 23 anda hole 24 are bored through the sleeve into the slot I9. These holes are part ofthe oiling system which keeps the plunger` well lubricated. lA screwplugy It,

such as shown in Figs. l and 3, is provided in the housing to designate the proper oil level, and the'oil may be drained from the Yhole in which this plug fits so that it will be at the proper level. A hole 25 is provided on the oppo site side of the Sleeve and a narrow slot .20 extends along the surface of the sleeve upward to the top and across the upper -edgeiin order to provide an oil return path and also to .permit free movement of air between'theplunger V.well and the opening formed around' the upper portion oi the plunger when it is depressed. The operating rocker arm 28 is-piVoted-ron-a-pin which in turn is held within the housingby means of the two screws l which abut against theA ends. of the pin. AOn the'lower portion of 'the operating rocker-arm are mounted twosrollers '2S and 221. With.v the operating arm in its normal position as. 'shown yinlligil, the roller 23 extends through thehole 25 in the -sleeve mand lies inthe pathof plungerf. The roller 2 rests against the face 35 ofthe Contact operating plunger 33.

.The contactoperating .plunger 33 fits within a casingl which is secured to the main `housing 3 by means of screws 32. The plunger 33.is held 4against the roller 2l by means of a spring 34 one end of which rests against the plunger head. 35 and the other end of which rests against washersA 38 which t into the hole .in the casing The .plunger stein extends through a hole in the vcasing 5 .and through a slot in the contact .arm 4i. Insulatingwasher 55, a nut 43, anda lock nut 44, are provided on the end of theplungerstem so that it cannot be withdrawn through .the slot in the contact .arm llll. Contact arm 4.! .is .pivoted at.42 and carries the spring 45. This .sprin'g'has aknob at itslower end whichrests against .the .wall of .casing :5. The spring is. then bent :around the. pivot point of the. rocker arm 4|.and retained underneath the^pin 62 so that .the .spring .pressureis .attempting toforce thecontact. arm to the left and. intonengagement .with the stationary contact G3. Thisspring pressure is opposed *.by the spring .34 which maintains the plunger 33.in its right hand position,:. the .plunger pulling .the contact arm .4i Aaway fromv the stationary contact 83. The .stationarycontact is mountedon a bracket 41, andis .adjustable by means of the screw48 .and lock nut 49.

Also within the .casing 5.is.;mounted .the terininal assembly 5! .consisting .of. anumber of terminals comprising the. nuts 5I. and 52 through .which the wire connectionsare madeto the contactors. Three of these terminals` are provided, one being connected to the contactarm di, another being connected to the stationary contact 53,-and the third being a spare terminal.

From the foregoing description ofthe structure of the contacter, it will be clear how the contactor operates. Each -time a. car wheel passes over the rail l the flange of the wheel strikes the top of a plunger 8 pressing the plunger down into the plunger well. .As the plunger is forced down, the edge of the plunger strikes the roller 28 forcing it through the hole 25 to the it and rotating the operating rocker arm 28 about its pivot point 29. 'This forces the roller El against the head 35 of the plunger 33 forcing this plunger to the left. As the plunger `33 moves to the left, the spring pressure -of the flat spring 45 forces-the contact arm 4l to follow theplunger .until the contact 4l engages the stationary .contact G3 thereby closing. annelectrical circuit. As soon as the plunger 8 is released, it is again restoredto its normal position by means-ci spring22 vallowing the spring 34 to return plunger 33 to its normal position, thereby drawing the contact arm 4l to the right -wd .breaking its Contact with the stationary contact 63.

`The. contact arm-lll'has been arranged to be opera-ted by spring power instead of directly by .the plunger '33. "found that whenithe contact arm was fastened This is necessary since it was to the plunger so that the movement of the .plungertofthe'leftl forced the movable contact .33 was moved to the left with considerable speed. v.'Ihis caused the contacts to close with considerable force, bending the ycontact arm H. As now arranged, the ypluz'iger 33 simply areleases the contact yarm :which is movedagainst the .stationary contact by spring power, thereby eliminating the above diflculty.

The plunger 8 is. roundedat its-upper endend the contactor is so designed thatthe flangesof the car wheels do not strike .theplungerl't in the exact center but strike the upper-surfaces of the plunger to the right'of its'center. line. This causes the plunger 3 to be rotated-slightly .each time it is struck by the ila-nge of a car wheel and is forced Vdownward to loperate the contactor, When the plunger i8 isforcedudownfinto the plunger well, it operates the operating rocker arm 28, as previously described, .and :when the lower edge of the plunger'passes the ho1e'f25 it seals the lower portion of the well containing the oil so that as the plunger is ylowered still further, the air pressure forcesthe `oil through the hole `23 and .upward in the slotl i9, some of the oil being forced out .of .the .hole :24..against the side surface of the plunger 8. As the plunger is rotated slightly each time it isxoperatedv as vdescribed above, the oil forced through the hole 24 keeps the Ventire surface of the plunger `well lubricated. The oil and lair passageway .2U is provided so that any oil which is pumped up -by the plunger will not be forced out past' the outer washerl5 but will be free to return to thewbottom of the well'through the slot/20.

Each time the Aplungerfit! is released after the ange of the car `wheel haspassed thereover, it is 'forcedl upward by means of .the spring-22. As the spring 22 expands and some of its coils .are forced upward outwoi the oil,\they carry considerable oil along and this-oil is splashed through the hole 25 and serves to `keep the rollers 25 vand 2T and the contact .operating plunger 33 well lubricated. An oil vent.3l is provided to permit free flow of oil between the space occupied by the plunger stem and thespring 34 and the slot 31 `which connectawith the'oil reservoir by. meansfof the hole 25'. This iis to prevent the oil being pumped into the opening between the casing 5 and the housing 3 through thepacking aroundthe plunger stem. v'I'.husall the moving .parts of thecontactor. are kept .well lubricated hat all times andthe only attention necessary is to ykeep the .oil reservoir .filled to the .proper level.

An opening is provided on each'side of A'the casing .5 Ito. accommodate incoming electrical cables. In the contacter illustrated .in the drawmeansof'the screw plug I4. The other opening is provided with a strain relief bushing I5 which fits tightly around the incoming cable to prevent moisture entering the housing 5.

What is claimed is: I n

1. In a circuit controller for use inrailway signalling systems, a plunger mounted adjacent to a. track rail operated in a vertical and rotary movement by the anges on the car wheels passing over the rail,l a horizontal plunger, .a pair of contacts, means responsive tothe vertical operation of said flrst plunger foroperating said horizontal plunger, and means controlled by said horizontal plunger forfclosing said contacts,-the rotary'movement of the first plunger preventing excess wear inr one spot on the plunger by the car wheels. y

2. In a circuit controller for' use in railway signalling system, a vertical plunger mounted adjacent to a track rail so as to be operated by n the flanges of car wheels passing over the rail, a horizontal plunger, a stationary contact, a movable contact normally held away from said stationary contact by said horizontal plunger,

n means responsive to the operation of said vertical kplunger for operating said horizontal plunger to release said movable contact, and means for moving said movable contact into engagement with said stationary contact.

3. In a circuitcontroller, an operating plunger, a second plunger, a stationary contact and a movable contact, said movable contact normally held away from said stationary contact by said second plunger, means including a rocker arm and two rollers for imparting the motion of said first plunger to said second plunger, and means responsive to the movement of said second plunger for closing said contacts.

4. In acircuit controller for use' in railway signailing system, a vertical plunger operated by the flange of a car wheel, a ysecond plunger, a stationary contact and a movable contact, said movable contact normally held away` from said sta-L tionary contact by said second plunger, means responsive to the operation of said first plunger for operating said second plunger to release said movable contact, and a spring for forcing said movable contact against said stationary contact.

5. In a circuit controller for use in railway signailing systems, a vertical plunger normally held in its upper position by spring power, a second plunger mounted horizontally, an operating rocker arm pivoted at its upper end, two rollers at the lower end of said arm, the first lying partly in the path of said first plunger and the second resting against the head of said second plunger, whereby the first plunger when forced downward by the flange of a car wheel strikes said'flrst roller and forces said arm to swing on its pivot thereby operating said second plunger, a pair of contacts, and means controlled by-said second plunger for closing said contacts. 1

6. 'In a circuit controller for use in railway signalling systems, a vertical plungerarranged to be operated by the flanges on the car; wheels of a train, a spring for normally maintaining said plunger in its upper position, a sleeve in which said plunger slides when operated, said sleeve having a hole at one side thereof, a second plunger, a rocker arm pivoted at its upper end.k Yand having two rollers.

7. In a circuit controller, a vertical plunger, a

horizontal plunger, a pair of contacts, means for operating said horizontal plunger, means includ- `ing a rocker arm and two rollers for imparting themotion of said vertical plunger to said horizontal plunger, means controlled by said horizontal plunger for closing said contacts, and means effective each time said vertical plunger is operated kfor lubricating said two plungers and said rocker arm and rollers.

8. In a circuit controller, a casing, a vertical plunger mounted in said casing, a spring for normally maintaining said plunger in its upper unoperated position, a cylindrical sleeve in said casing in which said plunger slides, the lower portion of said sleeve forming a receptacle for oil, means for operating said plunger, and means for lubricating the sliding surfaces of said plunger andgsleeve, said means including a passageway for oilfextending through said sleeve wall, along a groove in the outer surface of said sleeve, and through the sleeve wall at a point where the plunger surface is in contact with the inner surface of the sleeve when the plunger is operated and oil is forced through the passageway.

9. In a circuit controller, a housing, a vertical plunger mounted in said housing, a spiral spring for normally maintaining said plunger in its upper unoperated position, a cylindrical sleeve in said housing serving as a guide for said plunger, the lower portion of said sleeve forming a receptacle for-oil, said sleeve having a vertical groove in the 'outer surface thereof and two holes through the sleeve wall connecting the groove with the inner oil space, the rst hole being below the oil level and the second hole being above the oil level, and means for operating said plunger, the

operation cf said plunger forcing oil through said rst hole into said groove and through said second hole against the surface of said plungerr thereby maintaining the sliding contact between the surface of said vplunger and the inner surface of said sleeve well lubricated.

10. In a circuit controller for use in railway signalling systems, a vertical plunger mounted adjacent a track rail, said plunger operated by a car wheel passing over said track rail, a pair of contacts, a spring having tension normally tending to hold the contacts in normal position, another spring having tension overcoming the tension of the first spring and holding the contacts in reversed position, said plunger when operated removing the influence of the second kspring to thereby render the first spring effective to move the contacts into normal position.

11. In a circuit controller for railway signal'- ling systems, contact springs, a 'pivoted rocker 

